By Kathy A. Megyeri
Book Review of “Going Grey, How to Embrace Your Authentic Self with Grace and Style,” by Anne Kreamer, Little Brown and Company
Girl Me Too Day celebrated on April 7 recognizes the strength and endurance of all women and is a day to show support for one another. It was first celebrated in 2017 and its motto is “I’m designed for greatness.” Visit Girlmetoo.com for more.
“Whether ‘tis nobler to wear the inevitable signs of aging proudly or to take arms against them.” Linda Stankard
Aging is a female obsession but “Going Grey” by Anne Kreamer is one woman’s exploration of that experience.
Through interviews, experiments and her own story, she examines what happened when she let her hair become its true color and then discovers her true self. Her journey mirrors that of so many of us.
Her saga in “middle-aging,” as she calls it, is informative, and her writing style is friendly, useful and entertaining. Kreamer in the ’80’s distributed and co-produced Sesame Street, helped launch Spy magazine, created Nickelodeon Magazine, started the monthly “American Treasures” column for Martha Stewart Living, and wrote the book, “It’s Always Personal.”
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And while some feel it necessary to hide their age or ask permission to go grey, others like Kreamer embrace it and find that men really don’t mind it or they love it, prospective employers are more wary of it, and Hollywood tries to cover it up as much as possible.
Fewer than 10% of American women colored their hair in the 1950s compared with a reported 40-75% today. But some women cut their grey hair off, wear hats, scarves, headbands, or have it styled but others of us give in, stop the coloring, and then flourish.
Kreamer shares her research, the history, and our cultural standards to convince the reader that the stigma of grey being old, frumpy and uncaring is gone. Grey is empowering!
Readers say the book is written with warmth, intelligence, and humor. It certainly gives us confidence and helps us adjust our attitudes about aging. It’s inspirational with a sociopolitical analysis and focuses on an important aspect of womanhood. So if you’ve hesitated about coloring no more, this educational book is a turning point for you.
As one reader said, “I wish I had let my hair go grey years ago. This book is a meditation on aging, sexuality, selfhood, and about the very soul of a woman’s life.”
